Cosmetic Dentistry:

Cosmetic dentistry is the art of dental procedures focused on restoring teeth to their natural looking beauty, and enhancing a smile’s esthetic appearance, while also maintaining the health and function of the teeth.  Cosmetic dentistry improves the patient’s self-image – enhancing the patient’s smile often has a positive emotional and psychological impact on the person’s life. 

There are many new dental procedures and techniques used in cosmetic dentistry.  They include, but are not limited to:  

•  Porcelain veneers and inlays to fix broken/cracked, mismatched teeth, or correct gaps between teeth.
•  Dental implants to replace missing teeth •  Teeth bleaching and whitening to correct stained teeth.
•  Laser dentistry to fix "gummy" smiles - where a disproportionate amount of the gums show when smiling.
•  Use natural looking tooth colored fillings to replace unsightly silver amalgam fillings. •  Use non-metal crowns to replace old crowns that show black lines.

After examining your teeth, Dr. Townsend can discuss customized cosmetic treatments that are right for your smile.  Make an appointment for a consultation today!

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Crowns & Bridges:

A dental crown is tooth-shaped cap that is permanently cemented over a tooth, in order to restore the tooth’s strength, shape and size, and improve its appearance. The crown will cover the visible portion of the tooth above and right at the gum line, once it is cemented into place.

Crowns are used to hold weak, broken or cracked teeth together to avoid further fracturing. Crowns are also used to support large fillings, attach a bridge, or cover discolored or deformed teeth.  Crowns may also be placed over dental implants.

The dentist usually requires two dental visits to install a crown.  First, the dentist needs to prepare the tooth or implant for the crown.  The dentist will grind and shape the tooth so that the crown can be fitted over it. Then, the dentist makes an impression of tooth and surrounding gums, which is then sent to a dental laboratory so that the crown can be created.  The dentist fits a temporary crown over the tooth, until the permanent crown is ready. During the second visit, dentist will remove the temporary crown and cement the finished permanent crown onto the tooth.

Crowns generally last about five to eight years, and with good oral hygiene most crowns last longer.  Certain habits such as fingernail biting, chewing ice, and grinding teeth can do damage to the crown, and should be avoided.

A dental bridge is a false tooth (called a “pontic”) used to replace one or more missing teeth. The pontic is centered between two attached porcelain crowns, to create a fixed bridge.  The fixed bridge is permanently cemented to the two teeth on either side of the tooth gap.

There are several different types of dental bridges:

•  Traditional bridge - a false tooth centered between two attached porcelain crowns
•  Resin bonded  - also known as a "Maryland" bridge, false teeth are fused together to metal bands and bonded to     the back of the teeth on either side of the gap. This type of bridge is ideal when the missing teeth are in the front of     the mouth.
•  Cantilever – a type of bridge created to attach to only one tooth on either side of the tooth gap.

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CEREC 3D Ceramic Crown:

What is CEREC 3D?

CEREC stands for Ceramic Reconstruction. CEREC-3D is a chair side CAD/CAM device that enables dentists to design dental restorations fast and accurately. With CEREC 3D, dentists do not have to take impressions and then prepare temporary restorations. The technology is ideal for individual tooth restorations such as inlays, onlays, veneers, etc. Using CEREC, your dentist can prepare and add restorations in a single sitting. The restorations are made from ceramic and are free from mercury and other metals. Ceramic offers the advantage of being biocompatible and plaque-resistant.

What is the CEREC 3D procedure?

The dentist first cleans and prepares the tooth. Then an image is taken of the tooth. The restoration is then designed with the help of 3D-imaging. This is followed by milling; a process in which the restoration is prepared with precision. The restoration is then fitted after the milling is complete. 

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Dental Bonding:  

Dental bonding is used for many reasons, including restoration of chipped, broken or decayed teeth, to reshape or whiten your smile, or to fill in gaps between the teeth.  Bonding can also be used to attach bridges, and orthodontic appliances and fillings onto the teeth.

First, a soft composite resin filling is first scooped onto the teeth.  The dentist will sculpt, and shape the composite filling.  Next, a high intensity light is applied to the resin, which hardens the material.  Finally, the dentist polishes the surface to obtain natural looking appearance that blends with the tooth.

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Root Canal Treatment:

The root canal is the hollow space in the center of the tooth.  It contains the pulpy nerve tissue that provides the tooth with a sensory function – the ability to feel hot and cold.  There may be up to four canals in the human tooth. When the root pulp becomes damaged from cavity decay or fractures, pain usually results due to the increase in blood flow and cellular activity of the tooth. Bacteria can enter and multiply in the tooth, causing the pulp to die.  The tooth must be treated or the pain can get worse, and infection can spread, possible causing an abscess. 

Root canal therapy involves first removing the decayed or dead pulp, and cleaning out the canal.  The dentist may re-shape the canal and insert medication to kill bacteria, if necessary.  Once the dentist has determined that all infection has been cleared, the canal will be filled with gutta percha (a rubber-like material). The tooth then will be permanently sealed with porcelain or a permanent crown. Root canal therapy may take between one to three sessions, depending upon the condition of the tooth.

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Implant Dentistry:  

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root, which is surgically anchored into the jaw in order to secure a replacement tooth or bridge in place. Implants are stable and permanent and are not reliant on neighboring teeth for support. They are an ideal tooth replacement procedure because they look and feel like natural teeth.

Implants are great for patients who are unable to wear dentures.  Instead, the implant is placed directly into the jawbone to support permanently cemented bridges. Implants can be made from several different types of metallic and bone-like ceramic materials that are compatible with body tissue, and resemble real teeth.

Implant procedures can be done in the dental office with local anesthesia. The dentist performs surgery to anchor the artificial root into the patient’s jawbone. The healing process can take up to six months.  Once fully healed, the replacement teeth are fitted and secured to the artificial root.

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Complete & Partial Dentures:  

A denture is an artificial set of removable teeth made of acrylic resin, sometimes combined with metal.  Dentures replace missing teeth and adjacent tissues. Dentures can be either partial or complete. A partial denture serves to fills in the spaces made by missing teeth and prevents the remaining teeth from shifting position in the jaw.  Complete dentures replace all of the teeth. There are two types of complete dentures: immediate or conventional. An immediate denture is fitted onto the gums as soon as the teeth are surgically removed.  One disadvantage of an immediate denture is that adjustments may be necessary after the gums have completely healed. A conventional denture is fitted onto the gums after the gums have had a period of time to heal after surgery.

Dentures can take approximately five dental visits. First, the dentist takes an impression of the gums and a wax bite  - these are necessary to determine the vertical dimensions and proper jaw position.  The dentist may make a trial denture or “try-in” to make sure of the right shape and color as well as proper fit.  Minor adjustments are usually needed when the denture is placed.

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General & Family Dentistry:  

Dr. Townsend ’s practice is devoted to general and family dentistry.  As your primary dental care provider, Dr. Townsend is responsible for the general diagnosis, treatment, management and overall coordination of services related to the oral health needs for patients of all ages—for everyone in your entire family.  We are highly educated and trained on all dental procedures and can consult with you for the best course of treatment for your dental needs.

As a general and family dental practice, we are capable of performing specialized services at our office such as:  

General & Family Dentistry Dental Bonding Implant Dentistry Crowns & Bridges Cosmetic Dentistry Cerec Zoom Teeth Whitening Complete & Partial Dentures

Root Canal Treatment Porcelain Veneers Oral / Maxillofacial Surgery Invisalign Periodontics - Gum Disease Tooth Colored Fillings TMJ Treatment Prosthodontics

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Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery:  

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a specialty involving the diagnosis, surgery and treatment of injuries and defects in the mouth, teeth, face, jaws and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region.  An oral surgeon is required to obtain 6 additional years of hospital based surgical and anesthesia training. An oral surgeon has specialized knowledge in pain control and advanced training in anesthesia to provide quality care with maximum patient comfort and safety in the office setting.   Types of procedures performed by an Oral-Maxillofacial Surgeon include:

•  Dental implants 
•  Cyst or tumor removal 
•  TMJ surgery to repair/realign jaw
•  Facial and jaw reconstruction due to cancer surgery
•  Re-alignment of facial bones resulting from facial trauma
•  Tooth extractions

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Invisalign:  

Invisalign® is an orthodontic treatment that is a great alternative to traditional braces. Unlike traditional braces, there are no painful and ugly metal wires or bands, and they are virtually invisible. Invisalign works through the use of a series of clear teeth aligners. These aligners are custom-molded for each patient, to be changed every two weeks.  The aligners gradually reposition the teeth little by little until they are perfectly straight.

The obvious advantage of Invisalign® is that they are removable - the patient can remove them to eat, brush and floss. They are convenient and easy to use.

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Zoom Teeth Whitening:

Zoom! is a chair side bleaching process that lightens the discoloration of tooth enamel through the use of a special light and a whitening gel containing hydrogen peroxide.  First, a protective coating is painted on to the patient’s gums surrounding the treatment area.  This protective coating is allowed to harden, and serves to shield the gums.  The whitening gel is then applied, and a special light is applied to enhance the whitening process. This light aids in activating the hydrogen peroxide and helps it penetrate the surface of the tooth.  Use of the Zoom! light increases the effectiveness of the whitening gel by 26%, providing whitening improvement by up to eight shades. 

Post treatment, the dentist can provide the patient with a tooth tray, home whitening kit and instructions for touch ups.

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TMJ Treatment:

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the joint that makes it possible to chew.  This joint allows your jaw to open and close, and allows jaw movement forward, backward, and sideways. The TMJ only works properly if the lower jaw and its movements are synchronized.

Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) is a condition caused by strenuous physical activities, stressful situations, overuse of the muscles, and grinding of the teeth. TMD affects jaw muscles, the temporomandibular joint, and nerves where movements become out of synch.  These habits wear out the jaw muscles and lead to headache or neck pain. It can also result in sensitive teeth, injured soft tissues, muscle soreness, jaw discomfort, and headaches.  Other symptoms include difficulty opening and closing your mouth, and the jaw locking when you talking, yawning or eating.

TMD is treatable. A nighttime mouth guard will help stop the patient’s teeth grinding. More severe cases can treated with physical therapy, ice and hot packs, and posture training. TMD is usually cyclical and may return when you experience stress.  Dr. Townsend can recommend the right therapy for you.

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Periodontics - Gum Disease:

Gum disease is inflammation and infection of the gums and the tissue.  Generally caused by bacterial plaque, it is the major cause of adult tooth loss.  Left untreated, bacterial plaque will harden to tartar.  Tartar is a rough, porous mineral buildup that is usually yellow or brown in color.  Tartar forms at and underneath the gum line, and because it is porous, it absorbs stains.  Tartar excretes the toxins that cause gum inflammation, resulting in the development of periodontal pockets that hold even more toxins and bacteria. This condition can leads to the loosening of the teeth, or even the teeth falling out.   And as the condition worsens, the accumulated toxins and bacteria move deeper into the jaw to destroy the bone that holds the tooth in place.

Signs of gum disease include:

•  Red, inflamed gums
•  Bleeding while brushing or flossing
•  Receding gums
•  Loose or separating teeth
•  Presence pus between the gum and tooth
•  Chronic halitosis

Periodontics is the focus in treatment of gum disease.  Gum disease is reversible if caught while in the early stages. The dentist will scale the tooth to remove plaque and calculus, and plane the tooth roots to smoothing them. The dentist may prescribe antibiotics to clear up any infection or inflammation. Advanced cases may require the dentist to surgically trim the gums, remove the hardened plaque build-up, and re-contour the damaged bone.  

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Tooth Colored Fillings:  

For more natural looking teeth, tooth colored fillings are used to give the appearance perfect teeth. Today’s composite resins are tooth-colored, plastic materials (made of glass and resin) used both as fillings and to repair tooth defects. These tooth-colored materials are difficult to distinguish from natural teeth. Composites are often used on the front teeth where a natural appearance is important. They can be used on the back teeth as well depending on the location and extent of the tooth decay—and they are more costly than traditional amalgam fillings.  Ask Dr. Townsend if tooth colored fillings match your needs.

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Porcelain Veneers:  

A porcelain veneer is a thin shell of ceramic material placed over the natural tooth surface. The dentist will first prepare the tooth by removing half a millimeter of the natural tooth, to allow for the thickness of the veneer. Next the dentist will take a mold of the teeth, and the veneers will be fabricated from the mold.  Finally, the veneers are permanently bonded or cemented to the natural tooth.  

Veneers are used to cover discoloration and imperfections.  Porcelain veneers are also an effective substitution for crowns for the front teeth, as they can aesthetically change the size, color and shape of the teeth. The dentist can mount the veneer using little or no anesthesia. Porcelain veneers are resistant to staining – including stains from coffee, tea, and cigarettes, and last for years.

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Prosthodontics:  

Prosthodontics is the specialty of restorative and reconstructive dentistry, such as dentures, crowns, bridges, implants and veneers. Prosthodontists restore natural teeth or replace missing teeth and oral and facial tissues with natural looking substitutes. Treatments can involve patients with various issues, including jaw and face abnormalities, congenital disorders, and oral/maxillofacial trauma, all requiring advanced dental care.

Dr. Townsend will work with you to help determine a treatment plan that will also achieve esthetic balance.

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